Samuel f



(No Model.)

S. F. SNIFFEN.

WATER GLOSBT GISTERN.

Patented Oct. 17, 1882.

Unirse 'rares .WENT rieten,

SAMUEL F. SNIFFEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T() HENRY C. MEYER 8E GO., 0F SAME PLACE.

WATER-CLOSET CISTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,216, dated October 17, 1882, Application led May 26, 1882. (No model.)

To all 'whom fit may concern Beit known that I, SAMUEL F. SNIFFEN, ot' New York city,in the county of New York and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in VVater-Closet Cisterns; and l do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My invention relates to an improvement in that kind otl water-closet Cisterns in which a -sin gie-com partmentreservoiris em ployed, supplied automatically by what is usually called a ball-cockthat is, a cistern provided with a supply-cock that is automatically closed by a ball-iloat, which, as the supply' of water rises, is iioatedupand (through suitable connections with the said cock) operates to close it.

My invention has for its object to produce for use a perfectly simple and reliable contrivance in the use of which no more water can be used (at each operation of the cistern) than is represented by the capacity ot' the tank, no matter how longthedischarge-valve of the cistern be held open, either by accidentor design; and to this end and object my invention consists in the employment, in connection with -the usual cistern and automatic supply-cock. of a rod or strap hung to the chain-lever and provided with an elongated eye or loop receiving the iloat-lever, and a rod or strap fixed to the discharge-valve, and having an elongated eye or loop at its upper end, through which passes the chain-lever, by which construction and arrangement the supply-cock is closed whenever the discharge-valve is opened, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed ont in the claim.

To ena-ble those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will now proceed to more fully describe the same, referring by letters t0 the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, and in which- Figure l isa top view ot' a water-closet cistern and its attachments embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is an elevation or side view of the same, but with the front side of the tank broken away, (for the purpose ot' better illustrating the interior tixtures,) and showing the movable partsot the apparatusinthe positions which they occupy when the discharge-valve ofthe cistern is open.

Fig. 3 is a view nearly similarto Fig. 2, exceptthat the movable parts arc in the positions theyoccupy when the filled cistern has its discharge-valve closed.

In the several figures the same part will be found designated bythe saine letter of reference.

Ais an ordinaryor old-fashioned single-cornpartment tank or cistern, provided at B with a supply-cock, (which is to be connectedin the usual manner to the water-supply pipe,) said cock heilig operated by the lever C, pivoted at one end to the cock-tixture and provided at the other end with a hollow ball or Heat, D, all in a manner well known.

E is the exit-valve of the cistern, which is seated in the usual manner over the discharge pipe ororice j' in the bottom of the tank, which pipef, as usual, leads to the closet or place at which the dashing-water is to be used. Said valve E is lifted ott' of and replaced in its seat at pleasure through the4 medium of the lever G and gravity, one end of said lever being provided with a weight, it, while the other is connected with one end of the chain or cord H, that is pulled on to work said lever, and the said valve E and lever G heilig connected by a rod, fi, all as clearly shown. The lever G is pivoted atj in a stand mounted on a crossbeam, Z, at the top of the tank, and, together with the connected parts thus far described, does not materially differ in form or mode ot' operation from the lever land attachments of the old-fashioned single compartment tank; but depending from said lever G at a suitable point between its fulcrum and the end carrying the weight h is a rod or strap, m, the lowermost portion of which is formed or provided, as shown, with a sort of loop, o, which surrounds (orthrough which passes) the leverGof the ball-cock fixture, and the said strap, with its loop1ike end, and the levers G and C, are arranged in such relationship that while thelever C can freely vibrate upward during the filling ot' the cistern (in the usual manner) for the purpose of effecting the closing of the supply-cock when the cistern shall have been filled, said levercannot descend (and th us permit the opening ofthe supply-cock B) when the lever Gis lifted at the weighted end sufficiently to cause the valve E to he open. The lever -G is by IOO preference perforated at several points, in order that the strap m may be conveniently set in a proper position, or may be easily adjusted so as to properly control the movement of the lever C.

The operation of my improved contrivance will, in view ofthe drawings and theforegoing explanation of the construction and arrangementot' the/parts, be seen to be as follows Supposing the tank orcistern Ato be fully supplied with water and the valve E to be closed, the' supply-valveB will be closed, and will, as usual, be kept in a closed position by the action ot' lever C, induced by the buoyancy ot' the ball D, that rests on the water near its surface. Now, whenever the chain H shall be pulled down in the usual manner, and the lever Gr thereby operated in a manner to etlect thelifting ofthe valve E for the purpose of discharging (either partially or wholly) the water from tank A, the vibration of said lever Gr will at the same time ot" causing' the opening' of valve E sullicicntly lit't the strap or rod mr to cause the lower part ot' its loop o to support (and prevent any possible downward vibration ol') the lever G; and hence it follows that whenever the valve E is held open the valve B (through the medium ofloop o, acting to hold up lever C) must be kept closed. Now, theinstant the pull or chain H is released and the lever G is permitted to descend, at its Weighted end, so as to let valve E close, that moment the loop-like device at o descends sufficiently to allow the lever C to vibrate to any extent the condition of the water-supply in tank A will permit the ball D to t'all, in order that the supply-cock at B may be opened to replenish the tank to the requisite extent.

At Fig. 3 the dotted lines illustrate the posi tion to which the ball would be permitted to fall after a discharge ot' the tanks contents, while the full lines show the position to which the float or ball ascends by the ingress ofa full supply ot' water,in the usual manner.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-ters Patent, is-

In a cistcrn provided with asnpply-cock, the combination, with the chain lever, the iloatlever, and the discharge-valve, ot' the looped rods or straps m and if, whereby the supplycock is held closed whenever the dischargevalve shall be opened.

In witness whereof l have hereunto set my hand this llth day ot` May, 1882.

SAML. F. SNIFFIGN. ln presence ot- JAcoB FELBEL, 1I. (l. JANVIER. 

